Improvement in indicators for trains



H. G. KEYES 82; J. L. SMITH. Indicator for Trains.

No. 216,862. Patented June 24,1879.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. KEYES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND JAMES L. SMITH,

- OF YVILMINGTON, DELAXVARE.

IMPROVEMENT IN INDICATORS FOR TRAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,862, dated June 24,1879; application filed April 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY O. KEYES, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, and JAMES L. SMITH, of VVilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Bulletins or Indicators for Trains andother Purposes, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a frontview of the bulletin or illdicator embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is avertical section thereof in line 00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection in line 3 y, Fig. 1. Fig. dis a perspective view of a portionthereof enlarged. Fig. 5 is a front view of another form of a bulletinor indicator embodying our invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in theseveral figures.

Our invention consists of a series of rotating slats pivoted to asuitable frame, and provided with toothed wheels, said frame having agroove, into which said wheels project. The slats have painted orotherwise marked upon them the names of stations of a railroad and otherinformation, whereby the names of stations at which the next train is tostop, specialties of the train, or the names of stations of an expectedarriving train are readily indicated and announced. The faces of theslats are changeable, according to circumstances, without the slatsdisturbing or being disturbed by each other, and the groove of the framepermits the application of, and serves to guide, a wand or stick,whereby the slats may be readily rotated.

It further consists of means for simultaneously locking the severalslats or preventing rotation thereof.

It also consists of a dial provided with minute and hour hands, whichare set for purposes of indicating the hour of the outgoing and incomingtrains by means ofa vertical rod, which extends behind the slats, and isconveniently accessible at the bottom of the frame. The rod has its heador button covered by a door for preventing improper access thereto, andas the slats are similarly provided, the movable parts are duly guarded.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a frame, which is adapted to behung or supported in a conspicuous or proper position in a depot,station, or elsewhere.- 13 represents slats, which are arranged oneabove the other and jonrnaled to the side pieces of the frame. To onejournal of each slat is secured a toothed spur-wheel, U, the severalwheels being fitted in grooves a in the respective side pieces, I), ofthe frame A, and appearing at the front face of said side piece.

The slats B are separated one from another, so that the slats areentirely independent of or uncontrolled by each other, as are also thewheels 0, and the slats are prismatic or manysided, with names ofdifferent stations or different matter printed, painted, or otherwisemarked on each side.

On the front face of the side piece or strip, 1), of the frame A thereis a groove, D, which extends the length of said piece, and theperipheries of the wheels 0 protrude at said groove, so that their teethare accessible from the front of the frame. To the side piece, I), ofthe frame there is hinged a vertical bar or strip, E, which, whenclosed, covers the wheels 0 and groove D, and is in contact with thewheels or a small portion of the exposed faces of the slats B, said barbeing provided with a proper lock.

F represents a dial, which is located at the top of the frame A and Gare minute and hour hands, which are connected to suitable gearing G, soas to rotate similar to the minute and hour hands of a clock. To thefirst wheel of the train of said gearing G is connected a rod, H, whichextends vertically behind the slats, and terminates at the bottom of theframe, where it is provided with a suitable knob, button, or handle, (I.

The operation is as follows: The bar E is swung open, thus freeing theslats B or wheels 0 from contact therewith and uncovering said wheelsand the groove D. A wand or stick is now moved in the groove D, up ordown, so as to strike the wheels 0, thus rotating the several slats andcausing each slat to present another face, whereon is printed, painted,or marked the names of the required station or other information. Thebar E is again closed and locked, whereby it rests against the slats andcovers the'wheels, thus preventing rotation of the slats, either bydirect action against the slats or operation of the wheels. The rod H isalso operated in order to move the hands to the time of the starting orarrival of the next train; and it will be seen that by proper words atthe top of the frameA or on the dial-such as Train will leave at, For,for the outgoing train, or Train due at, From, for the incomingtrain-the passengers or waiting people may readily acquaint themselveswith the nature of the trains or other information and govern themselvesaccordingly.

A depot or station master will soon become expert in presenting theproper faces of the slats, either by one sweep of the wand or stick inthe groove Dor turning each slat separately, in which case said grooveserves as a guide for the wand or stick and directs it to the'wheel ofthe desired slat.

The knob d of the rod H will be coveredby a door, E, hinged to thebottom of the frame, in order to prevent improper operation of thehands'G.

For the indicator for incoming trains a dial, F, is provided, as in Fig.5, wherein the number of minutes late will be announced, the indextherefor being operated by'gearingan'd a frame A, having the groovedside piece, 12, substantially' as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The rotating slats B and toothed wheels 0, in combination with thecovering and lockin g bar E, common to the wheels, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

3. The hands G, with gearing G, and the frame A, with slats B, incombination with the vertical rod H, the locking-bar E, andcovering-door E, substantially as and for the .pur-' pose set forth.

HENRY G. KEYES. J. L. SMITH. Witnesses:

T. KING WALKER,

ALBERT HAVERSTICK.

